Back in July of 2021 the Great Bend Fire and Police departments expressed to the city council dissatisfaction with their current retirement situation. They are not part of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement (KPERS) system. KPERS has a special retirement program for fire and police (KPF). Because of the stress placed upon first responders, it is recommended they retire after 25 years of service. If they begin working in this field at age 25, they should retire at 50. Every county in the state is using KPF. KPF is seen as the industry standard.